The American Society of Newspaper Editors dedicate this week each year as Sunshine Week. Its purpose is to remind Americans that public officials must conduct public business openly for all to see.

A farmer would be horrified over the notion of an Arizona coyote being assigned to watch over his chicken coop. Arizonans should be worried that some public officials think they should be responsible for watching over themselves.

When East Valley voters go to the polls Tuesday, they will decide whether to support a number of city and school district bond issues and budget overrides.

In some respects, it’s easier to make a case against Proposition 204 than it is to support it. This measure on the Nov. 6 ballot would keep the state sales tax at 6.6 percent with most of the funds from a permanent 1-cent surcharge going to Arizona’s public schools. If it fails, the sales tax drops back to 5.6 percent. And who wouldn’t like to pay lower taxes? Plus, many credible organizations and individuals — from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce to the Goldwater Institute to Craig Barrett, former CEO of Intel — oppose it for a variety of legitimate reasons.

Imagine a downtown with multi-story buildings and sidewalks bustling with young people, professionals, and shoppers. Frequently, a light rail train travels through, stopping to unload passengers from all over the Valley who come to this urban center for work, entertainment and a vibrant nightlife.

As a “turnaround” principal, Ray Chavez has a daunting task before him: Transform Mesa’s Carson Junior High School from a low-performing underachiever into an academic success. After Carson was found to be failing for five years under the federal No Child Left Behind law, the Mesa Unified School District was required to take drastic steps to “turn around” the school.

In just 12 weeks, the 2011-2012 Mesa United Way Pledge Campaign will end with what officials hope will be $2,825,000 they can use to fund 26 nonprofit agencies that help homeless families, low-income senior citizens, people with disabilities, children in foster care, and others in need of assistance throughout the East Valley.

When Michael Crow became president of Arizona State University, he brought with him a lofty long-term vision, catchy buzz-phrases like “New American University,” and the promise of access, achievement and progress.

The Mesa Unified School District and the Mesa Chamber of Commerce deserve kudos for a new buy-local initiative.

Sometimes you don’t know what you have until you lose it.